After three straight months of increases, the unemployment rate for most of Northeast Missouri dropped during March.

Rates rose slightly only in Lewis, Lincoln and Montgomery counties. Seeing slight decreases were Audrain, Clark, Knox, Macon, Monroe, Ralls, Scotland and Shelby counties, and the City of Hannibal.

The percentage for Pike County was unchanged at six-point-two percent.

The statewide unemployment numbers edged up slightly for Missouri in March, but are a bit lower than at this time in 2014. The Department of Economic Development credits the better numbers on creation of 39 thousand non-farm jobs over the last year.